Split-second lapse puts an end to Andrei Arlovski's "Day of Reckoning"

At Saturday night’s “Affliction: Day or Reckoning” main event in Anaheim, Calif., former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski (14-6) looked to do what hadn’t been done in over eight years: halt WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko (29-1).

But for just over three minutes, that’s exactly what Arlovski looked destined to do. Then one lapse of judgment, one mistake, one incorrect decision and it was all over.

“I don’t know what to say,” Arlovski said at the post-event press conference. “I guess I did pretty good in the first few minutes. But at the end of the first round I tried to do something flashy, and I paid for this.”

With Emelianenko apparently reeling from a flurry of punches followed with a front kick, Arlovski tried to leap in with a flying knee to finish “The Last Emperor.” Emelianenko stood firm with the poise and stone-cold demeanor that have become his hallmarks and delivered a crushing right hand that sent Arlovski face-first into the canvas.

Arlovski said he was upset at his mistake and apologized to his all-star team of coaches for his actions.

“I’m really upset at myself,” Arlovski said. “I feel bad, first off for myself, and I feel bad for all of my trainers because they spent a lot of time with me. Obviously I didn’t follow the gameplan, except for the first few minutes.”

The gameplan was to frustrate Emelianenko with straight punches while utilizing speed, reach and superior boxing while moving onward to victory. And it all worked until the split-second “The Pitbull” strayed.

“Every single jab or right hand (I threw), I saw that I hurt him,” Arlovski said. “It was very effective for me. I don’t know why I changed my tactic and I did a flying knee. I don’t know, I guess I still remembered the fight against Ben Rothwell. But definitely Fedor’s no joke. He beat me tonight.”

The win snapped an impressive five-fight win streak for Arlovski, while extending Emelianenko’s own run to 26-straight.

Arlovski didn’t bear the marks of a 15-minute war following the bout. Instead, he sat solemnly like a man who was ever-so-close to fulfilling a dream, only to have it snatched away in the blink of an eye.

It is the type of loss that could define a career — tagging Arlovski as a fighter unable to pull through in a pinch, or serving as a catalyst for an amazing run from the Belarusian.

The 29-year-old showed every bit of the athleticism and abilities that he had once been known for during his run as the UFC’s title holder. And most importantly, Arlovski immediately realized how close he was to doing the unthinkable — and what caused him to fall short.

“I have to sit down first of all myself and figure out why I didn’t listen to my trainers,” Arlovski said. “I have great trainers. I felt power behind me. One little mistake and I paid for this. And all the hard work, all my trainers and all my hard work, I just threw out all of it. I had the chance, and I didn’t realize my opportunity.”

During the conference, Arlovski and his camp tried to quell much of the pre-fight bad blood that was built leading into the WAMMA title bout. But despite the respect Arlovski showed in defeat, he maintained his desire to pick up where he left off before his critical error.

“It’s [Emelianenko’s] night, of course,” Arlovksi said. “I would love to have a rematch, but that’s up to Affliction and Golden Boy.

“Sooner or later someone will beat him. I’m just very upset with myself that I wasn’t that person tonight.”

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.